Portugal with kids

Portugal’s Atlantic coastline stretches for more than 800 kilometres, and it isn’t all wild surf and dramatic cliffs. There are plenty of safe beaches in Portugal for children, especially in the Algarve, around Lisbon and along the sheltered lagoons of the south.

As June rolls in, Porto slips into full festive mode for Festa de São João, the city’s much-loved St John Festival and the highlight of the Santos Populares celebrations in Portugal.

Portugal sits in 4th place in a recent league table of child well-being across countries, just behind the Netherlands, Denmark and France.

Planning a family holiday in southern Europe comes down to a simple balance: reliable sunshine, safe beaches and enough to keep children engaged once the novelty wears off.

You don’t need to fly to Japan to walk beneath clouds of cherry blossom. In central Portugal, thousands of cherry trees transform the hills of Fundão into a sea of white and pale pink every spring — and 2026 could be one of the best years yet to see it.

Portugal doesn’t do national parks in the same way as Spain or Italy. Instead, most protected areas fall under the natural park label.

Carnival in Portugal 2026 promises a vibrant celebration full of colour, music, and festive traditions.

Portugal transforms into a festive wonderland during the Christmas season, offering a rich mix of cultural traditions, regional customs, and delicious food.

The famous Christmas lights in Obidos turn the town into a gentle fairytale each evening, with the medieval walls lit for Vila Natal.

Winter slips into Portugal with misty valleys, fire‑warm taverns and the scent of street‑roasted chestnuts. Snow does arrive on higher ground while the coast stays mild and moody.

If you’re swapping a beach day for slides and lazy rivers, Albufeira is nicely placed for easy splash-filled escapes across the Algarve's top waterparks.

If you're living in Portugal or planning a move, knowing when the school holidays fall makes life a fair bit easier. The Portuguese academic year typically runs from September to June, with breaks dotted throughout for Christmas, Easter, summer, and a handful of shorter interruptions.

Today we're discovering the OHAI Nazaré Resort, a unique place that unites the best of both worlds: forest and sea. It is the perfect refuge for a getaway with family or friends, with activities that are sure to delight the youngest members of the family as well.

Portugal's new nationality law has been passed by the President of the Republic. This means that the children of immigrants who have been living in the country for at least a year, even illegally, can become Portuguese at birth.

The children of immigrants who have been living in Portugal for a year may be able to get Portuguese nationality if an amendment to the nationality law, which is under discussion in Parliament, is approved.

The most magical season of the year is on its way, and with it the "vilas" or Christmas fairs in Portugal. Ornaments, decorations, sweets and cakes, hot chocolate, Santa Claus, street markets, plays, magic trains, lights, Christmas trees...

In Portugal there are 17 sites officially classified as World Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

If you’re visiting the Portuguese island of Madeira with children, one of the best and most exciting activities you can do is take a ride in one of the Carreiros do Monte, a basket which goes down a toboggan run for 2 kilometres of open road at a breakneck speed of 30 mph.

Maternity leave in Portugal is due to be extended to 12 months paid leave at full pay, if a law is passed after a discussion in the Assembly of the Republic (AR), following a petition that was signed by 21,038 people.

Portugal has many palaces architectural wonders to discover, and there are few more curious than the Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra.

Of all the amazing things Portugal has to offer visitors, one of the most quirky and curious may be the Casa do Penedo, a house built into rock near Fafe, in the District of Braga in northern Portugal. The so-called ‘Stone house’ went viral on the internet because people just couldn’t believe this

A new year has started and we are here to make sure you have a full cultural agenda to get you going on the first few months of the year.